Israeli soldiers shoot Palestinian minister during anti-settlement protests

The Israeli soldiers shot Walid Assaf on Thursday with rubber coated bullets in the village of Das Karkar in the occupied West Bank.

Assaf, whose left ear was injured from the attack, said he was taking part in a peaceful protest against Israel’s plans to confiscate land in the Das Karkar village when he was shot, according to Palestinian Authority news agency WAFA.

But Palestinians should continue to take to the streets and protest the settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, he added.

Two of Assaf’s escorts were also injured after being targeted by Israeli bullets.

Israel has occupied the West Bank illegally since 1967, committing various crimes against Palestinian civilians.

More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.

The Japanese government slammed Israel on Tuesday saying it "deeply deplores" Israeli plans to illegally construct more than 1000 housing units in the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Japan’s Press Secretary Takeshi Osuga acknowledged that Israel is continuing its illegal settlement activities despite repetitive demands to freeze the activities.

"Settlement activities are in violation of international law and Japan has repeatedly called upon the Government of Israel to fully freeze settlement activities," Takeshi said, noting it undermines the "viability of a two-state solution".